Flash light



`lune 15 1926.

L. J. VOORHEES FLASH LIGHT Filed March 29, 1922 Patented June l5, 1926.

F I C E LEE J. vooRHEEs, oF BINGHAMTON, NEW

YORK, AssIGNoR 'ro NATIONAL CARBON COMPANY, INC., A CORPORATION F NEWYORK.

FLASH LIGHT.

Application led March 29, 1922. Serial No. 547,882.

portable electric the type ener- This invention relates to lamps,especially those of gized by a battery contained within a flat casing.The principal object of the invention taining the battery ce s inposition.

,In lamps of this type separate cells may be used, or a unitary batterymay be prepared by packaging aplurality of cellsand aiiixing suitablecontact members. mentioned procedure is advantageous in that one or moreof the cells may be replaced when necessar without disturbing theothers. Also, ac aging, adds materially to the cost of t e battery. Thepresent invention provides simple and reliable means for obtaining theseand other advantages of the unit cell battery.

In general, the invention comprises a casing provided with resilientmeans for supporting a plurality of cells in laterally alined relation,and means' for series connecting the cells in a circuit including thelamp filament.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated lin theaccompanying drawings in whith Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the lamp,the cover being in open position, and Fig. 2 is a vertical centralsectiony on line II-II of Fig. 1.

ferring tothe drawings, 1 indicates a cup-shaped bottom section of aflat .metal casing comprising a complementary cupshaped cover section 2hinged at .3. The embodiment of the invention which has been selectedfor illustration is intended for use as a. pocket flashlight, and thecasing is there-` fore rounded at its margin, so that itniay fitconveniently into the pocket of the user. The dimensions and contour ofthe casino' are adapted to the ordinary cylindrical flashlight cells. iydesired configuration of the casing may be chosen, however, with a viewto the intended use of the lamp or the shape of the battery cells. 'Aprojection 4 is stamped in the side of casing 1 andvsnaps intodepressible locking catch 5 when the cover 2 is closed.

A bulb holder 6 having a threaded stem 7 is mounted in a circularorifice in a bracket 8, which is attached to the casing in any suita lemanner. The holderis partly enclosed in a semicircular recess 9, and acorrespondi ing indentation 10 in the end wall of cover 2 receivesy theprojecting portion of the holder.

1s to provide improved means for rey `rated The first The exterior rimof holder 6 islpreferably substantially. flush with the casing. Alampbulb 11 is screwed into the threaded stem 7 and its outer terminal is ielectrical contact with the stem. The inner lamp terminal 12 projectsbelow the holder 6. L This terminal makes contact with a conductivetubular rivet 13 carried'by a dished perfotongue 14, preferably ofresilient metal and forming an integral part of y bracket 8. f

Tongue 14 is electrically connected to the casing. o insulate the rivet13 from the tongue, the perforation in the latter is made of suchdiameter as to leave an the rivet. This clearance and insulation aremaintained by a liber ring 15v set in the dished upper surface of thetongue 14 "and a second similar ring 16 placed be. neath it. The ringsare clamped in position upon the tongue b expanding the ends of therivet upon them, as shown in Fi 2.

The means for removabl supporting the' cells comprises upper an lowerresilient arms 17, 17 and 18, 18', arranged in pairs in verticalalinement. The upper arms 17 18, may be conveniently formed integrallywitllli bracket 8. Arms 17', tia

secured to the casing, by soldering or the like, with its concavityadjacent the casing bottom.` In this manner'a conduit is formed., forinsuand 21, which connect the cells in series, as subsequentlydescribed.

The resilient arms 17, 17-, 18, 18, like the tongue 14, are providedwith a central perforation and a concave upper surface. Tubularconductive rivets 22, 23, 24, 25, are passed through the perforations ofarms respectively. Fiber rings 15 are clamped in ly'described, toinsulate the rivets from theV arms. Wire 20 connects rivets 23 and'24,and wire 21 connects rivets 25 and 13.

Cells 26 and 27, havin the usual paper wrapper or other lateralinsulation, are received between the arms 17, 17 and 18, 18', wherebythe two cells are supported side by sidein upright position between thepairs of resilient arms, Their carbon poles are in electrical contactwith rivets 22 and 24 and their zinc bases rest upon rivets 23 andltubular rivet 22. In thev 25. As the ldimensions of the closed case aresuch that no undue freedom of'motion is allowed the cells, and as therivets are pressed against the electrodes by the resil!l The electricalcircuit is as ollowsz- Through cell 26 to rivet 23, thence through wire20 to rivet 24: and cell 27, thence through rivet 25 and wire 21 torivet 13 and the inner terminal of the lamp, through the lament of thelamp to its outer terminal, the holder 6, the casing and the switch,iinally` through the switch to rivet 22.

A metal casing has been described, but

it will be understood that features of the,

invention are applicable as well to nonconductive casings. The number ofcells may also be varied as desired.r Various other changes may be madein form and arrangement of parts, within the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. In a portable battery-operated electric lamp, the combination of anincandescent lamp, a casing carrying said lamp, a plurality ot separateelectric cells, and means permanently secured in said casing' Jforsupporting said cells upright in side by side relation within saidcasing and for connecting said cells in series circuit with one anotherand saidl lamp, said means comprising upper and lower resilient membersextending inwardly from the lateralwall of Aa casing an adapted toreceive said cells similarly inserted therebetween.

2. In a' portable battery operated electric lam the combination yof acasing, an incan escent lamp, separate cells connected in series and incircuit 'with said lamp, and means for retaining said cells upright inside by side relation in said casing comprising alined members, securedto and extending inwardly from a wall of said casing and carryingcontacts engaging the poles of said cells, said alined members beingpermanently secured to a side wall of said casing and relativelyyieldable so they may be spread apart for the insertion and removal ofcells.

3. In a portable battery-operated electric lamp, the combination of acasing, an incandescent lamp carried thereby, separate cells, means for.retaining said cells in said casing comprising alined members secured toa wall of said casing and carrying con facts engaging .the poles of saidcells, a conduit within said casing, and wlres passing ying said cellsin side through but insulated from said conduit and electricallyconnecting certain of said contacts, s0 as to connect said cells inseries circuit with said lamp.

4. In a portable battery-operated electric lamp, the combination ofcomplementary cup-shaped casing sections, an incandescent lamp carriedby one of said sections, a plurality of separate electric cells, andmeans secured in one of said sections for supportby side relation andelectrically connecting them in series with one another and said'lampwithin the casing formed when such sections are closed together.

5. A portable battery operated electric lamp comprising a metal casing,a lamp bulb mounted therein, spring tongues adjacent the top and bottomof said casing and having metallic connections therewith, said tonguesreceiving a plurality of single cells therebetween, insulated conductivemembers carried by said tongues and adapted to make contact with thepoles of the cells, and means for establishing an electrical circuitcomprising the cells, the casing, and the lilament of the lamp.

6. In a portable battery operated electric lamp; the combination of acasing; an incandescent lamp; separate cells; and means in said casingconnecting said cells in series and in circuit with said lamp,comprising a bracket mounted on a side wall of said casing carryingcontacts for likepoles of said cells and a contact for said lamp.

7. In a portable battery operated electric lamp; the combination of acasing; an incandescent lamp; separate cells; and means for supportingsaid cells upright in said casing and connecting them in series and incircuit with said lamp, comprising means extending inwardly from a sidewall of said casing carrying a contact for said lamp and colrtacts forthepoles at the ends of said ce s.

`8. The invention according to claim 10, in which said lamp contact andone of the other contacts are insulated from the means carrying them. lA

9. In a portable battery-operated electric lamp, the combination of acasing comprising complementary cup-shaped sections, an incandescentlamp carried by one of said sections, a plurality of separate electriccells, and cell-supporting and connecting means permanently secured inone of said sections, said means comprising resilient contacts engagingthe* opposite poles of Said cells tt) support said cells upright in sideby side relation and connecting said cells in series circuit with oneanother and said lamp.

10. In a portable battery-operated electric lamp, the combination of acasing, an incandescent lamp carried thereby, a plurality of separateelectric cells, means for sis I side wall of side by side relation Iinsaid cas1ng comprising a pair of upper arms and a pair of lower arms,said pairsy of arms being permanently secured to an inner said casingand spaced apart to receive said cells therebetwen., said arms engagingthe ends of said cells to retain them. 1l. In a portablebattery-operated electric lamp, the combination of a casing; aninsupporting said cells in candescent lamp carried thereby;

a plurality 10 ofseparate cells; spaced pairs of arms ento connectanother.

supporting said casing said casing said cells in series circuit With one15 In testimony Wl1ereof,I alix my signature.

LEE J. VO

ORHEES.

